Johnny “Ralph” Hammond – “It’s all about that bass!”
Johnny’s musical adventure began 50 years ago in the greater SW Michigan area and beyond. He’s played in a plethora of bands, too numerous to list, but he did name a few – Brownstone Divinity, Trash, Justice, Straight Shooter, Country Strings and Undertow.
Anyone who has ever played in a band knows that the bass is the foundation of a band, just as the drums are the heartbeat. And when you put the two together, like Johnny and our drummer do, you have a punchy rhythm section that can drive a band to even greater heights.
Johnny has a dry “country boy” sense of humour and is always good for a laugh. He’s a solid bass player and knows not only how to hold the pocket but also how improvise and jam. Every night, after a good rehearsal or gig, Johnny closes out the evening with, “Good jammin’ wicha!”
I had the pleasure of playing with Johnny in the early 70s in Justice, a five-piece jam and blues band, and it’s great to pick up where we left off and rock out once again!
J. Phillips